One Night Stand With Alexander Blackwood-Chapter 72 — Seventy-two

The parking lot was already in chaos when Alexander arrived.

He had broken every speed limit the moment the driver’s text came through. Something about Serena’s expression. Something about a restaurant she had no reason to be at.

Something that made the tight knot in his chest pull unbearably tighter with every second.

He barely bothered to park properly.

The moment he stepped out of the car, his eyes locked onto the sight that made his blood turn to ice.

Liam was carrying Serena in his arms.

Her head was against his chest, her limbs limp, her face unnaturally pale. She looked quiet and everything about how she was placed in his arm was unnatural and wrong.

Alexander moved before his mind could catch up.

"Liam."

The single word cracked through the air like a gunshot, causing a tense filled atmosphere.

Liam froze mid-step. He could recognise that voice even with his eyes closed.

He turned around slowly and deliberately. A smile curved his lips when his eyes met Alexander’s. It was the kind of smile that didn’t reach the eyes. The kind that dared to be taunting.

"Well," Liam drawled. "This is unexpected. I didn’t expect you to show up this quick."

Alexander walked towards him, closing the distance between them, every muscle in his body screaming internally. His gaze never left Serena.

"What did you do to her?" His voice was low and calm, but the look in his eyes was deadly.

Liam adjusted his hold on Serena, tightening his arms possessively. "Relax. She just had a little too much to drink."

Alexander laughed mirthlessly. "She doesn’t drink like that. And she doesn’t slur after two glasses."

Liam’s eyes flickered. Just for a second. How did he guess it so accurately? He thought to himself, unknowingly giving himself away.

Alexander noticed it, and his eyes dimmed.

He stepped closer, so close that Liam could feel the threat and tension radiating off him. "Put her down. Now." It wasn’t a casual statement, but an order.

"And if I don’t?" Liam asked softly.

Alexander’s jaw clenched. "Then I break every bone in your body before the police arrive."

The smile on Liam’s face widened. "You’re overreacting."

Alexander’s fist connected with Liam’s jaw he could complete his statement.

The impact was brutal.

Liam staggered backward with a grunt, barely managing to keep his grip on Serena as his shoulder slammed into a car. Pain exploded across his face, but his eyes burned with fury.

"You bastard!" Liam finally snapped, shedding the last piece of gentlemanly aura around him.

Alexander didn’t give him time to recover.

He grabbed Liam by the collar and slammed him harder against the car, metal denting under the force. "You drugged her," Alexander growled. "You planned this, didn’t you?"

Liam laughed breathlessly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "So what if I did?"

That was all it took.

Alexander released him just long enough to pull Serena from his arms, cradling her against his chest with a gentleness that starkly contrasted the violence simmering beneath his skin.

Her head fell against his shoulder.

"Serena," he murmured urgently. "Princess, can you hear me?"

There was no response, only silence.

Rage unlike anything he had ever felt tore through him. He gently placed her on the floor just so he could deal with Liam.

He turned back to Liam, eyes dark and lethal. "You touched what is mine."

Liam wiped the blood from his mouth, his expression twisting into something dangerous. "She was mine long before she ever met you."

Alexander moved so fast Liam barely saw it coming.

His fist slammed into Liam’s stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. Before Liam could recover, Alexander grabbed him again, slamming him into the ground this time.

"You don’t get to say her name," Alexander snarled, pressing his foot down on Liam’s chest. "You don’t get to claim her. Ever.".

Liam coughed, laughter bubbling out despite the pain. "You think this ends here?"

Alexander leaned down, voice cold as steel. "Well I know where it ends today for you."

He straightened, pulling his phone out with one hand scooping Serena into his hand with the other hand.

"Security. Police. Ambulance," he barked into the phone. "Now. I do not want you to waste time."

As Liam lay there, pinned and bleeding, Alexander looked down at Serena again, his grip tightening protectively.

"I’ve got you," he whispered. "No one will ever hurt you again."

.

The ambulance arrived minutes later.

Alexander barely registered the chaos around him as paramedics rushed forward. He didn’t loosen his hold on Serena until a woman gently but firmly touched his arm.

"Sir, we need to take her."

His arms tightened instinctively. He didn’t want to let go of her.

"Sir, we need to know what’s wrong with her." The woman commented gently.

"I’m coming with her." He said with a firm look in his eyes.

The paramedic met his eyes, then nodded. "Of course."

As Serena was laid onto the stretcher, Alexander kept a hand on her shoulder, grounding himself in the faint warmth of her skin.

She looked so fragile like this. She was smaller and vulnerable in a way that twisted something painful in his chest.

Her lashes fluttered briefly.

"Alexander..." she murmured, her voice barely audible.

He leaned closer instantly. "I’m here. Do not try to talk."

Her brows furrowed weakly. "It hurts... my head hurts."

"I know," he said softly, brushing his thumb across her temple. "Just hold on. You’ll be fine soon."

Her fingers twitched, searching, until they found the edge of his sleeve. She clutched it weakly before slipping back into unconsciousness. It was like she finally found an anchor which allowed her to slip back into unconsciousness.

Alexander straightened as the stretcher was wheeled into the ambulance.

Behind him, metal cuffs clicked shut. The police had arrived.

Liam was being hauled to his feet, bloodied, furious, but still had that sickening smile on his lips.

"This isn’t over," Liam spat as officers restrained him. "You think you’ve won? Think again."

Alexander turned slowly.

Every trace of restraint vanished from his face.

"You do not get to speak anymore," he said quietly. "I told you that you do not get to speak about her."

Liam’s eyes gleamed with something ugly, a trace of menace flashing through his eyes. "She came to me willingly."

Alexander stepped closer causing tension to rise through the officers’ bodies.

"Say her name again," he warned, "and I promise you will not live long enough to regret it."

The smile finally slipped from Liam’s face. Alexander’s threat couldn’t be taken lightly.

---------------------

The hospital corridors were cold and without life.

Alexander stood outside the emergency room, hands clenched, suit stained with blood that was not his. Each second stretched like torture. Every second without Serena felt like something was leaving away from his body.

The doctor finally emerged from the emergency room and Alexander rushed to him.

"What’s wrong with her?" He asked, his eyes fixated I’m the doctor.

"She was sedated," he explained. "A fast-acting drug mixed with alcohol. The consequences could cause permanent memory loss. Thankfully, we caught it early. ."

Alexander exhaled sharply. Liam had crossed a line he shouldn’t have. "Will she be okay?"

"Physically, yes. She’ll wake up soon. But she’ll be disoriented. You just have to take it easy with her."

Alexander didn’t need to be told twice about that.

"Can I see her?"

The doctor nodded, and stepped aside.

Alexander walked into the room and he saw Serena laying in the hospital bed, pale but breathing steadily. Machines hummed softly around her.

Alexander moved to her side and took her hand carefully.

"I failed you today," he murmured. "But I swear, no one will ever touch you without paying the price."

Her fingers tightened weakly around his.

Alexander froze immediately.

Her eyes fluttered open slowly.

"Alexander..." she whispered, confusion clouding her gaze.

"I’m here," he said immediately. "You’re safe."

Tears welled up in her eyes as the memories began to surface. Her breath hitched. "He... Liam..." She didn’t need to be told that Liam was the one behind this.

Alexander leaned closer, his forehead resting against hers. "He is done. He will never get near you again. I’ll make sure of that."

Her shoulders shook as silent tears slid down her cheeks. She had trusted him, even when her instincts screamed danger. She had given him the benefit of doubt since they were once mates in school.

Alexander held her carefully, fiercely shielding her from the world.

He would do everything within his power to make sure that Liam got the punishment he deserved. This was a vow he made within himself.